Even as the first snowfalls dust the Northeast with blankets of white glitter, there are plenty of reasons to keep your bar and restaurant guests outside during the fall and winter months, even if it’s to provide a safe and cozy smoking area. With commercial patio heaters, you can create year-round appeal and function for your outside patio. Providin a source of added heat for those cooler days and nights ahead can be done so in style, with heaters that are fashionable and blend in with your exterior decor.

Many of the heat lamps that are on the market now, such as those offered by Lava Heat Italia, are energy-efficient, safe to touch, and easy to adjust for the correct temperature. Whether you’re searching for a tabletop heater or a tower of warmth, today’s products are safer and more convenient than ever! You can choose between electric, propane, or natural gas models, and many are also approved for indoor use in case it tends to get a little drafty inside your dining room or banquet hall. Plus, the finish colors and design styles vary to match every bar or restaurant design.

Be sure to read all the specifics of the particular model you’re shopping for before making a purchase, and keep the following items in mind for picking the best heater for your patio.

Benefits to Look for When Shopping for a Restaurant Patio Heater

Minimum Assembly Required – Most commercial heat towers will ship fully assembled or only take a few minutes to get put together. This will save you from the added costs of having someone assemble and install at your property and minimizes the risks that the heater will be incorrectly assembled, and therefore, dangerous to use.

Protected Burner Unit – By featuring an enclose the burner unit, a patio heater is less likely to experience malfunction from carbon build-up, corrosion, pests, spider webs, dirt, dust, rust and more. You will want to look for units that protect their mechanical parts and ignition, which also makes for a more efficient heat lamp and can extend its life compared to other heater models.

Balanced Flame Distribution – The well-crafted Ceramic Honeycomb insert found in the Lava Heat patio heater models allows for an even flame distribution, resulting in an even heat, eliminating hot spots. The balanced mount centers the flame within the glass tube, reducing the chance of carbon build-up, while also allowing the flame to move freely, creating an attractive “dancing” look.

Balanced Weight Distribution – Most tower style heaters are designed with even weight distribution, so they are not top-heavy and will not easily tip or fall.

Easy-to-Ignite Functionality – In addition to searching for heaters designed to provide the highest in energy-efficiency standards, you want a burner that will ignite easily, quickly, and without trouble. Whether it’s through a switch on the device or a remote control, you can depend on simple igniting that your bar, restaurant, or resort staff can use to quickly turn on to please patio visitors and then get right back to serving other guest needs.

Electrostatic Powder Coating – Professionally applied electrostatic powder coating finishes last many times longer than dipped or painted finishes and resist scratches, chips, and peeling. This special type of powder coating has proven to be highly weather and rust resistant, as well, giving you the confidence that it will be a long lasting addition to your property.

Portability – Many heaters come with optional wheel kits, allowing you to easily move around, in and out, depending on your location’s needs. This also adds functionality to the unit, giving you more flexibility in where and how you use your patio heaters.

Anti-Tilt Safety Switch – If the unit should tilt or fall, the heater will automatically turn off due to how the mercury completes, or if bumped disconnects, the electrical circuit. Interrupting the circuit will not emit a spark that can ignite flammable gasses, making this safety feature a huge benefit when shopping for patio heaters.

Borosilicate Glass Tube – Borosilicate glass (aka Pyrex) is a type of glass that includes at least 5% boric oxide, which makes the glass resistant to extreme temperatures, and also improves its resistance to chemical corrosion. The glass is more likely to crack or snap rather than to shatter, so it is safer to have around in a situation where breakage is a concern. In the event that products made with the glass do crack, it is generally easier and safer to clean up than shattered glass.

Warranty – As with any product or restaurant furniture item, you will want to consider warranty with purchase. Lava Heat Italia warrants to the original consumer purchaser that all aspects of this product will be free of defects in material and workmanship for 3-10 years from the date of purchase, depending on which model you choose. You should always ask to see the full warranty policy before placing your order.

Now that you know what to look for in a restaurant patio heater, you’ll be able to heat up your deck or outside dining with the best unit for your property.